Monday, May 2, 2011

Dupe It Yourself: 7 Dupes Using Olive Oil

I’m really in a duping mood these days and since I came up with quite a few dupes using Olive Oil as the main ingredient I thought of putting it all together under one head.Using Olive Oil on your face may seem a little drastic to most of you but don’t worry it won’t clog your pores like other heavier oils and in fact is beneficial for both dry as well as oily skin.I’ve been using olive oil in my daily beauty regimen for the last couple of years and through all types and kinds of skin.And I’ve never been let down.Olive Oil has been known to:

Promote a smooth, radiant complexion

Help maintain elasticity of skin

Heal dry, brittle nails and soften cuticles

Condition and add shine to hair

And if that’s not reason enough to start using olive oil here are 7 dupes that might just convince you.

Dupe 1: Face Cleanser
I have tried umpteen cleansers but this one remains the king of all.Have a look at the remains of the cotton once you wipe it off your face and you’ll be convinced too.And you don’t have to mix up anything use olive oil straight from the bottle.Wet face.Take 1-2 drops of olive oil in the palm of your hands.Add a drop of water and rub in the mixture all over your face for a couple of minutes in a circular movement .Wait for another couple of minutes.Wipe off with a washcloth soaked in hot water.Alternatively you can use cotton pad dipped in hot water.Do this every day if you have dry flaky skin and every other day if you have normal/oily/combination skin. Dupe 2: Shaving Cream
This comes in handy when you run out of shaving gel/cream.Normally I would use soap and water but this one is way better.It not only makes your skin super soft after shaving, it also guarantees no nicks.Simply apply olive olive liberally over the area you want to shave.Run the razor in the direction of hair.After you’re done wipe off with a washcloth dipped in hot water.

Dupe 3: Makeup Remover
This one is my all time favourite dupe.Olive oil can wipe off all kinds of stubborn water proof makeup.Though I mostly use it to remove my eye makeup and then follow up with the cleanser dupe.Place a cotton pad on the opening of the bottle and flip it once to soak through.Gently dab the oil onto your eyes and then wipe off.Wipe off traces of oil with dry cotton pad.

Dupe 4: Moisturizer
A great remedy if you’re suffering from eczema or psoriasis.Mix together 1 part olive oil, 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts mineral water.Store in a air-tight glass bottle.To apply take a few drops on your fingers and apply to affected areas.This can also be substitutes as regular moisturizer but only at night while sleeping or it will attract dust and grime during the day.If you have oily skin and are scared of the thought of using oil on your face you can wipe it off after 15 minutes with warm water.

Dupe 5: Hair Spray
This spray will be your lifesaver if you suffer from frizzy hair.But it should only be used as a spray and should never be applied like a serum/cream or you will end up with greasy hair.Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a cup of hot water and whisk.Add a tablespoon of your favourite conditioner and a few drops of your favourite essential oil (optional) while the water is still hot and whisk till everything comes together.Store in a spray bottle.Shake well before using and avoid using on the roots of your hair.

Dupe 6: Honey And Sugar Scrub
A yummy scrub to take away all your dead skin.And unlike the harsh scrubs available in the market this is great for sensitive skin and leaves your face really soft.Mix together a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of olive oil.Add half a teaspoon of sugar to it.Wet face apply scrub in circular motion.Wait for a few minutes then wipe off the scrub using a washcloth dipped in hot water.Great scrub for lips too.

Dupe 7: Deep Conditioning Hair Pack
Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to an egg and give it a whisk in the mixer till its creamy and frothy.Apply it onto your hair(avoiding the roots) using a brush.Cover hair in a polybag or shower cap.Leave it on for 15 minutes.Wash off the mixture using cold water.Apply conditioner.Leave for another 15 minutes wrapped in shower cap.Shampoo as usual.You will have amazingly soft hair and this does wonders for dry and damaged hair.For additional conditioning you can add a teaspoon of honey to the egg, oil mix.

And that’s that.I hope this post will convince you to keep a bottle of Olive Oil handy at all times.